The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below.
Jeannie Baker Brown
I once spoke to a man who told me that you learn new things every single day. He also told me that it may be something you want to know or not. Regardless, you learn. In 1988, at 21 years old, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease. Read more>>
Tyler Keef
My journey began in 2002 when I saw wrestling on TV for the first time. Read more>>
Robin Roach
Robin’s Just Desserts started during COVID, but the inspiration was my son, Bryan, who has Down syndrome, autism, and celiac disease. I also have celiac disease, so I knew how hard it was to find desserts that were truly safe and still tasted amazing. Read more>>
Tony Jumpp
In the summer of 2013 I ended up making a rudimentary sheath out of wood and leather. It was quite horrible for something thrown together out if recycled leather. It really peaked my interest and got the gears somewhat moving. Read more>>
Pryce Caldwell
I started photography in 2010 working with DJ Blaze & DJ Nova for Pyro Entertainment, covering nightlife and events in Florence, South Carolina. What started as simply wanting to capture the energy and atmosphere of the clubs quickly turned into a real passion for storytelling through photography. Read more>>
Ludovicus ‘Luis’ Bisschops
The Alchemist of Light. They called it a compromise, but to me, it felt like an exile from the canvas.Growing up, my parents looked at my paint-stained fingers with a mixture of dread and exhaustion. Read more>>
Brandi Grover
I started my business with a simple idea and the incredible support of my community. Back in 2020, I wanted to help local businesses stand out by painting their storefront windows with fun, eye-catching artwork that would bring people in. Two small business owners, who already believed in me and had built relationships with me, took a chance and trusted me with their windows. Read more>>
Renea
I founded my baking business (Sweets By Renea) in September 2022 after my mom encouraged me to turn my passion for baking and cooking into a business. To build brand awareness and connect with the community. I began participating in local events throughout the Charleston, SC, area, where I showcased my products and introduced my business to new customers. Read more>>
Canaan Reese
Canaan Reese Acebal, professionally known as Canaan Reese, is a filmmaker, creative director, actor, and entrepreneur based in South Carolina. He is the founder of Vi Creo Media, a creative agency specializing in cinematic storytelling, commercial filmmaking, photography, and social media management for brands, businesses, restaurants, wedding venues, and hospitality clients. His work and behind-the-scenes content can be found on Instagram at @canaanreeseofficial and @VicreoStudios. Read more>>
Melissa Thomason
I started my business because I couldn’t find a nursing bra that fit after the birth of my first child. Finding bras in my size had always been a challenge. Even as a teenager, I had to special order bras from catalogs because local stores simply didn’t carry the cup sizes I needed. Read more>>
heather north
We were long time summer residents of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Read more>>
Annie Gallagher
I grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and moved to Charleston in 2013 to attend the College of Charleston. I always knew I wanted a creative career, and after graduating, I took a leap and started Annie Gallagher Interiors when I was just 23 years old. Read more>>
Lacey Hennessey
My art career started back in college at Clemson University, long before I ever thought to call it a business. A fraternity “mountain weekend” cooler painting tradition ended up being my accidental launchpad. I painted one for a date, other girls noticed, and suddenly I was getting paid to paint theirs — complete with lists and checks left inside like a DIY order system. Read more>>
Samara Phillips
My artistic journey began in high school when I had the opportunity to attend the Fine Arts Center during my senior year. There, I explored darkroom photography and metals, and for the first time discovered the joy of creating something with my own hands. Once I realized I could make beautiful, lasting objects, I was hooked. Read more>>
Dawu Bowman
I started working on this business about 10 years ago while I was serving in the military. I decided after 22 years of Service in the army, that I would retire and pursue my passion of serving my community through business. I decided franchising would be the best option as a gradual introduction to business as I transitioned from military to civilian life. Read more>>
Dr. Lisa Kershaw
I first was exposed to herbs through my grandmother when I was four. She had a beautiful greenhouse and garden and taught me how to grow herbs, plants, and flowers and how they benefit the environment and improve our health. Read more>>
Danielle Grillo
I’ve always loved cooking. Long before I ever considered creating content, I was the person constantly sharing photos of my meals with friends and family. Eventually, people started asking for the recipes and how I made everything, so I decided to start recording videos instead of typing the same instructions over and over. Read more>>
Jasmine Roberts
My journey has been one of resilience, determination, and purpose. I have always believed that success comes from creating opportunities, not waiting for them. As a mother of three, every decision I make is centered around building a legacy that my children can be proud of while showing them that hard work and faith can overcome any obstacle. Read more>>
Brittany Cromwell
As a content creator for many years, I have always loved content and the way it can help people connect, tell their story, and grow a business. About a year ago, I started working one-on-one with business owners who knew they needed content but did not always have the time, strategy, or confidence to create it consistently. Read more>>
Rio Stenner
I have been a genetic counselor for 15 years. It is a field I am very passionate about. I have worked in various hospital systems providing genetic counseling services. I have also worked for companies that provide genetics benefits development for health insurance companies. More recently, I opened a private genetic counseling practice, focusing on hereditary cancer syndromes. Read more>>
Marvisha Singletary
I’m originally from Moultrie, Georgia, but I moved to Columbia, South Carolina, after joining the U.S. Army. Looking back, every chapter of my life has prepared me for what I’m doing today, even if I didn’t realize it at the time. Read more>>
Jonathan Bolton
I’m an artist born in Greenville, SC. I trained locally, Greenville Tech, Winthrop University for Undergraduate, and received my MFA from Clemson University, finishing in 2023. I was a meandering student with a lot of drawing skill but absolutely no ambition. Read more>>
Angela Anderson
People often ask how I became an author, consultant, poet, and podcast host, but the truth is my story is far from linear. It is a story of detours, resilience, and refusing to let circumstances define my future. My journey began with a dream I had long before adulthood. By the age of 15, I had already mapped out my future. Read more>>
Carla Henríquez
I’m a Chilean abstract fiber artist based in Moore SC for the past 8 years. I begun my artistic journey back in Santiago, Chile in 2016 when I took a class on “weaving” and from that point on I fell in love with it. Read more>>
Mackenzie Morrow
I’ve always loved music, and I was good at creative writing in school early on. Eventually, I learned to put them together. My grandparents have an upright piano that I learned to play on. I started piano lessons in first or second grade, joined orchestra and began learning cello in sixth grade, and started writing songs (badly) in maybe eighth grade or so. Read more>>
COURTNEY SYKES
My career began in the esthetics industry with a simple passion for helping people feel confident in their own skin. As an esthetician, I quickly realized that I didn’t just enjoy performing treatments—I loved understanding the science behind them and, even more importantly, teaching others. Read more>>
Anika Edwards
I have been interested in all things creative since I could remember. Writing, creating flyers on the computer, recording videos and taking pictures on my Mom’s camera until I eventually purchased my own. This stayed with me through the years and led me to obtain my LLC for Noni Visuals in 2021 focusing only on graphic design at the time. Read more>>
Billie Jean Bolden
I’ve always believed beauty is more than what you see in the mirror. Long before I understood my purpose, I knew I loved helping people feel seen, valued, and confident. I became a licensed cosmetologist in 2011, and over the past 15 years, Billie Jean Styles has grown into much more than a salon business. Read more>>
Debbi Moore
In 2017, one of our daughters got married on a family farm. She had a unique vision for her reception: every guest would dine on a different floral, vintage china plate. Since we had nearly a year to prepare, we set out to find as many different floral china plates as possible. Read more>>
Angelo Edalo Marinelli
From grinding in the local scene to co-headlining iconic venues like the Bug Jar and rocking daytime beach sets at Sunset Bay, my musical journey has been all about evolution and connection. Whether I’m dropping exclusive unreleased tracks, blending live instrumentation into my sets, or making appearances on national television, the goal remains the same: creating unforgettable, feel-good experiences for the crowd. Read more>>
Nivek Simon
I’m Nivek, but most people know me as Vek (Veek). I’m a Charleston, South Carolina native—straight out of the 843 🌴. I’m a photographer and model, and I’ve been building my craft for years. Coming from the Deep South, I’ve always wanted my work to represent more than just a photo. Read more>>
Angel Wright
I’ve spent most of my adult life creating spaces where people can learn, grow, and have meaningful conversations. My career began in education, and over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of roles including classroom teacher, international educator, advocate, college instructor, author, speaker, and entrepreneur. While the titles changed, the work itself remained surprisingly consistent. Read more>>
Janel Nichole H.
In 2018, I launched my beauty brand while still working a full-time job, which made the early days quite tough as I tried to balance both. Fortunately, I was able to resign from my 9-5 and focus entirely on my business in 2019. Read more>>
Amber Asouzu
My journey to where I am today hasn’t been a straight line, but every twist and turn has brought me exactly where I need to be. The foundation of who I am comes from my grandmother. Her constant love and unwavering support shaped my world. Read more>>
April Mudrick
I spent many years in management before leaving my position in January 2020. My children were all grown and for the first time in my life, I felt like it was finally the right time to pursue something just for me. I had a few ideas, but having my own business was always on my mind. Read more>>
Teena Marie Jackson
I have always been fascinated by the questions people don’t ask and the connections they don’t see. Looking back, that curiosity has shaped every chapter of my career. Professionally, I’ve spent more than two decades working in highly regulated industries, helping organizations improve data governance, strengthen decision-making, and reduce operational risk. Read more>>
